EPA v. UNO-VEN CO.

Case summary

UNO-VEN OPERATES A PETROLEUM REFINERY CONTAINING A FLUIDIZED CATALYTIC CRACKING UNIT (FCCU) WHICH VENTS EMISSIONS INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND WHICH IS SUBJECT TO PARTICULATE EMISSIONS LIMITS DEFINED IN THE ILLINOIS STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (SIP). AFTER THE FCCU FAILED STACK TESTS ON NOVEMBER 8, 1994, AND APRIL 25, 1995, BY EXCEEDING ALLOWABLE PARTICULATE EMISSIONS LIMITS, U.S. EPA FILED AN ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT SEEKING PENALTIES. ON MARCH 27, 1997, THE REGION FILED A CONSENT AGREEMENT AND CONSENT ORDER SETTLING A CLEAN AIR ACT ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY ACTION AGAINST A PETROLEUM REFINERY OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE UNO-VEN COMPANY IN LEMONT, ILLINOIS. UNDER THE CACO, UNO-VEN CERTIFIED THAT IT HAD COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE ILLINOIS SIP UNDER THE CAA, AND AGREED TO PAY A $121,000 CIVIL PENALTY, AND, AS A SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT ( SEP ), AGREED TO THE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF NEW ULTRA LOW NOX BURNERS ON A PROCESS HEATER AT THE SPONGE COKER UNIT AT ITS REFINERY. COKING IS A THERMAL CRACKING PROCESS WHERE RESIDUAL FROM THE PETROLEUM REFINERY DISTILLATION PROCESS IS CONVERTED TO GASOLINE, DISTILLATE AND COKE. THE REPLACEMENT BURNERS RELY ON AN INTERNAL FLUE GAS RECIRCULATION DESIGN, IS MORE EFFICIENT, AND PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN NOX EMISSIONS. THE ULTRA LOW NOX BURNERS ARE EXPECTED TO REDUCE NOX EMISSIONS FROM THE PROCESS HEATER BY 98.6% ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE SEP WILL REDUCE NOX EMISSIONS FROM THE REFINERY BY 34 TONS PER YEAT AT AVERAGE FIRING RATES AND UP TO 43 TONS PER YEAR AT MAXIMUM FIRING RATES.

Defendants (1)

• UNO-VEN CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• PDV MIDWEST REFINING LLC CITGO REFINERY

  135TH STREET & NEW AVENUE, LEMONT, IL, 604394697

  Registry ID: 110000595348

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• UNO-VEN CO.entered 1997-03-27

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $121,000

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 1996-09-27Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1997-03-27Final Order Issued
• 1997-04-04Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1997-11-14Enforcement Action Closed